# US 12,006,191 B2 · Fleet and twist tolerant flat belt design > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,006,191 B2 - Document ID: US12006191B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/074,670 - Filed: 2022-12-05 - Published: 2023-03-30 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-17 - Assignees: Liftwave, Inc. - Applicants: Liftwave, Inc. - Inventors: Blake Sessions - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12006191B2 ## CPC - B66D 1/28: Other constructional details - B29D 29/00: Producing belts or bands - B66F 9/07572: {Propulsion arrangements} - B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material - B66B 7/062: {Belts} - B66D 3/04: Pulley blocks or like devices in which force is applied to a rope, cable, or chain which passes over one or more pulleys, e.g. to obtain mechanical advantage (sheaves F16H55/00) - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract Flat belt apparatuses and methods are provided where one or more cords in the flat belt are tensioned or pre-tensioned to extend the service life of the flat belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a flat belt comprising: tensioning one or more cords of a plurality of cords being positioned in the flat belt, wherein the plurality of cords comprises one or more inner cords and one or more outer cords, and wherein the one or more inner cords are tensioned more than the one or more outer cords; and jacketing the plurality of cords, with belt jacket material positioned around the plurality of cords so as to form a flat span, wherein the jacketing is conducted while retaining the tensioning of the one or more cords. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tensioning the one or more cords comprises tensioning more than one cord in the plurality of cords in a parabolic manner. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein tensioning the one or more cords comprises tensioning a wire rope. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein jacketing comprises over-molding the plurality of cords with polyester polyurethane as the belt jacket material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising releasing the tension on the one or more cords tensioned once the flat belt is cooled and formed. ### Claim 6 A method of enhancing a flat belt for use within a reeving system containing substantial fleet angles and twisted spans, the method comprising: heating the flat belt so as to soften a belt jacket of the flat belt, the belt jacket surrounding a plurality of cords positioned in the flat belt; applying tension to one or more cords of the plurality of cords, wherein the plurality of cords comprises one or more inner cords and one or more outer cords, and wherein the one or more inner cords are tensioned more than the one or more outer cords; and retaining the tension applied to the one or more cords while the flat belt is allowed to cooled to an ambient temperature. ### Claim 7 A flat belt comprising: a jacket; and a plurality of cords positioned in the jacket, wherein the plurality of cords comprises one or more inner cords and one or more outer cords, and wherein, when the belt is in a relaxed state, the one or more inner cords are tensioned more than the one or more outer cords in the plurality of cords. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The flat belt according to claim 7, wherein the cords in the plurality of cords are tensioned according to a parabolic function based on their position relative to a center of the belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The flat belt according to claim 7, wherein cords in the plurality of cords are of a hollow core construction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The flat belt according to claim 7, further comprising sheaves with at least one of a standard crown profile or an inverted crown profile retaining the plurality of cords so as to normalize tension within cords across a cross section of the belt.